The 12 Best Hair Straighteners, Tried and Tested by Celebrity Hairstylists (2024)

When talking about hot tools, most of us have nightmare-level flashbacks of damaged hair and broken, split ends—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Today’s best hair straighteners offer a variety of different options and functions so you can tailor to your specific hair type and styling goals. Not to mention, some of the top flat irons can also speed up your morning routine and deliver silky smooth results (all without frying your hair).

With so many options on the market to choose from, it can be difficult to know which flat irons are a cut above the rest. Luckily, we spoke with multiple celebrity hairstylists to uncover their top straightener picks—for frizzy, fine, thick and thin hair—that they use on their VIP clients.

Related:7 Best Short Haircuts for Women Over 60, According to a Celebrity Stylist

When buying a straightener, there are a lot of variables to consider. That’s why Tara Simich, founder of Mermade Hair(who has worked with Real Housewives’ Melissa Gorga), explains, “You need to make sure it has adjustable heat settings—different hair types need different amounts of heat, so having control is super important.”

Another thing Simich says to consider? Size. “If you have shorter hair or want to style bangs, a smaller plate might be easier to work with,” she tells Parade.

Celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Korab, who has worked in commercial, runway and editorial spaces, adds: “Ceramic, titanium, and tourmaline plates each offer different benefits—ceramic provides even heat, titanium heats up quickly and works well for thicker hair, and tourmaline helps reduce frizz.”

Related: What Is 'Old Money Blonde'? Why This Hair Color Works for These 17 Celebs and Could Work for You Too

“Look for a straightener with ceramic coating to provide even heat distribution and ensure smooth shiny results,” says celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko, who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood right now, like Alix Earle, Madelyn Cline and Gigi Hadid.

As someone who needs to style a variety of different hair types and textures, Polko personally prefers a 1-inch size, “as it’s great for achieving a variety of techniques.” And of course, having adjustable heat settings is a plus—not all hair types and styles require the same amount of heat, she warns.

However, Simich notes that while ceramic is great for even heat distribution, titanium may be better for those with thicker, unruly hair since it heats up faster and maintains a high heat. It’s all about preference!

Related: The 6 Best Hairstyles for Women Over 50, According to Celebrity Stylists

Naturally, the Dyson Corrale is at the top of our list. Noted by multiple celeb stylists as a must for red carpet events and long salon days, this tool allows you to “straighten hair in half the time, which means half the damage,” says Adam Federico, R+Co Vice President of Technical Education. “This is great, because I find that heat damage is one of the biggest thieves of shiny, healthy and glossy hair.”

Bonus points: it’s cord free and has flexing plates, which is fantastic for controlling the hair and gathering it together, even in the tiniest of bathrooms.

If you want to take a page out of Korab’s book, this easy-to-use straightener is a go-to. “I love using it on myself and clients because it heats up fast and distributes heat evenly, which gives consistent results,” she tells Parade.

Not only this, but the design is super slim, which makes it easy to handle and allows Korab to work through larger sections of hair quickly while still being precise.

Not all hair is the same, and for the gals with unruly hair, you need something with a little extra oomf to tame your mane. This lightweight flat iron features an infrared light beam (located within the titanium plates) to penetrate deeper into the hair cuticle for a sleek finish like never before.

Purvis loves this tool as it “works very efficiently and has a good range of heat settings. And its dual voltage makes it easy for traveling!”

Not every styling routine is one-size-fits-all, so Polko’s favorite for her clients is the Conair Style Chemistry. This interchangeable styling collection comes with seven different attachments, giving Polko “the chance to create a customizable routine for my clients with less clutter.”

The flat iron attachment uses Ceramic Technology that evenly distributes heat to avoid damaging hot spots and enhance the hair’s natural shine. It also has six different heat settings up to 400° F—what more could you ask for?

For those with short hair, you likely don’t need a bulky tool to get the job done—just a small plate for taming bangs will do.

The Mermade Straightener is a go-to for bobs and lobs “because it gives the best result while being gentle on the hair,” says Simich. “Ceramic plates heat up quickly and evenly, so you don’t have to keep going over the same section again and again. It just gets the job done without stressing the hair out!”

Hair can lose moisture as it grows longer, which can lead to stiffness and split ends if heat is introduced. That’s why Purvis loves to use the T3 Singlepass Stylemax on her clients with long manes.

“It’s great for delicate or finer hair, as the settings are very user friendly and it will remember your settings for the next time as well,” she tells Parade.